The inaugural Brewstillery Mix Masters cocktail competition created by Stone & Wood Brewery and Cape Byron Distillery (creators of Brookie’s Gin) recently hosted the regional finals, with the seven deserving winners joining the Brewstillery team in Byron Bay for the ultimate bartender experience this week.
The seven winners – Alexander Brown (Covent Garden, Brisbane), Kimberley Brown (Lock Wood Bar, Gold Coast), James Stewart (Three Blue Ducks, Byron Bay), Pauric Kennedy (Barangaroo House, Sydney), (Damien Kos, 18th Amendment, Geelong), Will Turner (Maybe Mae, Adelaide) and Joe Sinagra (Halford Bar, Perth) – each won their respective regional final.
The challenge was to mix Brookie’s Gin with Stone & Wood beer, while also utilising native ingredients.
“We challenged bartenders to celebrate local native ingredients and mix them into their signature Brookie’s and Stone & Wood serves and the judges were treated to some awesome, very creative and imaginative drinks,” said Eddie Brook, co-founder of Cape Byron Distillery.
Caolan Vaughan, Stone & Wood head brewer, added: “The winners will be rewarded to the ultimate Byron Bay experience, they will learn about the amazing diversity of native Australian ingredients and apply them to create a unique batch of Stone & Wood Beer and Brookie’s Gin.”